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What the sources say

Gloucestershire Old Spot PigSus domesticus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Gloucestershire Old Spot Pig profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 35 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Rare Breeds Survival Trust, Watchlist

Gloucestershire Old Spot. Rare Breeds Survival Trust, Watchlist.

The page saysLarge lop ears, black spots on white, and a history of feeding on windfall fruit in English orchards.
The source saysnotable for its white coat marked with distinct black spots, lop ears ... was historically kept in orchardsNote: windfall fruit from livestock-conservancy-gos: "thriving on dairy by-products (whey), windfall fruits in orchards, and cider pressings"; "Large" from the same RBST page: "large, lop ears that nearly cover the face when mature"
The page sayscomes from around the Berkeley Vale, on the southern shore of the River Severn in Gloucestershire, England
The source saysThe Gloucestershire Old Spots originated around the Berkeley Vale on the southern shore of the River Severn and was frequently kept in orchards.
The page saysThe Rare Breeds Survival Trust calls it the oldest pedigree spotted pig in the world, because no other pedigree spotted breed was recorded before 1913
The source saysit is the oldest pedigree spotted pig in the world ... No other pedigree spotted breed was recorded before 1913, so today's Gloucestershire Old Spot is the oldest such breed in the worldNote: "because" restates the source's own "so"
The page saysIn 2010 the Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders' Club was awarded Traditional Speciality Guaranteed status by the EU Commission, an official label recognising the special qualities of the breed's meat
The source saysin recognition of the special qualities of its meat Produce In 2010, the Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders’ Club was awarded Traditional Speciality Guaranteed status by the EU Commission
The page saysThe Gloucestershire Old Spot was the first breed of any species in the world to receive it.
The source saysThe Gloucestershire Old Spot was the first breed of any species in the world to be accorded Traditional Speciality Guaranteed status by the EU Commission
The page saysThis is a large-bodied breed.
The source saysThe Gloucestershire Old Spot is a historic, large-bodied pig breed
The page saysA white coat carries distinct black spots on black skin
The source saysnotable for its white coat marked with distinct black spots ... The black spots are distinct on black skin, though white predominates.
The page saysits forward-drooping lop ears, set well apart, are large enough to nearly cover the face by adulthood
The source sayslarge, lop ears that nearly cover the face when mature ... forward-drooping ears set well apart
The page saysSows typically weigh around 280 kg and boars about 350 kg
The source saysSows typically weigh around 280 kg and boars about 350 kg
The page saysThe Rare Breeds Survival Trust notes the breed's excellent grazing ability
The source saysThe Gloucestershire Old Spot is noted for its excellent grazing ability.
The page saysRooting tends to stay in patches, and areas with plenty of acorns, nuts and berries are usually the favourites
The source saysRooting tends to be localised but not always predictable ... Areas with abundant acorns, nuts, and berries are usually favoured above all others
The page saysDigging can kill off unwanted plants, but the bare ground it leaves can let preferred plants take hold, which benefits certain invertebrates and reptiles
The source saysRooting effects can not only kill or remove unwanted plant species, but the bare ground created can provide opportunities for natural regeneration and encourage the establishment of preferred plant species, benefiting certain invertebrates and reptiles.
The page saysThe breed is popular for its reputation for high-quality meat, but the number of pedigree animals has been declining in recent years
The source saysThe breed is popular due to its reputation for high quality meat production, however the number of pedigree animals has been declining in recent years.
The page saysThe Rare Breeds Survival Trust lists the Gloucestershire Old Spot as "At Risk" on its UK Watchlist, with a female breeding population estimated at just 424 animals in 2024
The source saysGloucestershire Old Spot At Risk view all pigs ... the breed remains rare, with a female breeding population estimated at just 424 in 2024Note: the page's navigation names the 2026-27 Watchlist of "all native livestock and equine breeds in the UK"
The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysThe Gloucestershire Old Spot is a historic, large-bodied pig breedNote: GBIF has no IUCN Red List category for Sus domesticus, the domestic breed this profile covers; the Least Concern assessment in the source pack (https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2025-1.rlts.t41775a215861797.en) is for the wild ancestor, Sus scrofa, and must not be cited here. Not Evaluated follows the alpaca precedent for domestic breeds with no assessment; RBST's own "At Risk" watchlist category (a breed-conservation category, not an IUCN one) is cited separately in the body and FAQ.
The page saysLarge: they are one of the features that distinguish the breed.
The source saysThe Gloucestershire Old Spot is a large, white pig distinguished by at least one clear black spot and large, lop earsNote: "at least" qualifies the spot count, which this sentence does not state
The page saysIts lop ears are set well apart and droop forward, and by the time a pig is grown they nearly cover its face.
The source sayslarge, lop ears that nearly cover the face when mature ... forward-drooping ears set well apartNote: rooting for acorns/grubs from rbst-gloucestershire-old-spot and gospbu-faq, both quoted above
The page saysthe Rare Breeds Survival Trust lists it as 'At Risk' on its UK Watchlist, with a female breeding population estimated at just 424 animals in 2024, and says the breed remains rare despite its qualities
The source saysDespite its qualities, the breed remains rare, with a female breeding population estimated at just 424 in 2024
The page saysa large-bodied pig whose sows typically weigh around 280 kg and boars about 350 kg
The source saysThe Gloucestershire Old Spot is a historic, large-bodied pig breed ... Sows typically weigh around 280 kg and boars about 350 kg

Source
02

The Livestock Conservancy

Gloucestershire Old Spots. The Livestock Conservancy.

The page saysThat was the year local farmers, worried that a government plan to license breeding boars threatened their local pig, formed the Gloucestershire Old Spots Breed Society and compiled an official herd book
The source saysIn 1913, the British Board of Agriculture announced a livestock development plan that included the licensing of breeding boars. Farmers of the Berkley Vale realized this plan threatened the existence of their beloved local pig breed, so in November 1913 they formed the Gloucestershire Old Spots Breed Society and compiled an official herd book.
The page saysThe pigs themselves were first mentioned in English writing around 1790
The source saysGOS pigs were first mentioned in English literature around 1790.
The page saysThe breed was common on small family farms, where it thrived on whey from dairying, windfall fruit in orchards, and cider pressings. These gave it the nicknames "cottage pig" and "orchard pig."
The source saysthe GOS was common on small family farms, thriving on dairy by-products (whey), windfall fruits in orchards, and cider pressings. These gave the pigs the nicknames “cottage pig” and “orchard pig.”
The page saysThe breed is known for its calm, docile nature and its hardiness when raised outdoors
The source saysGloucestershire Old Spot pigs (GOS), are recognizable by their distinctive white coats with black spots, large lop ears, and their docile nature ... The Gloucestershire Old Spots pig is known for its calm nature, ease of handling, and its hardiness in outdoor rearing conditions.
The page saysBritish folklore claims the breed's large black spots were bruises left by apples falling on the pigs as they foraged in the orchards
The source saysBritish folklore claims the large black spots were bruises caused by apples falling onto them as they foraged the orchards for food.
The page saysOrchards and pasture; thought to have been developed in the Vale of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England, and also bred in the United States
The source saysThe breed is thought to have been developed in the Vale of Berkeley in Gloucestershire, England ... Preservation efforts in Britain and American are ongoingNote: orchards from rbst-gloucestershire-old-spot ("was frequently kept in orchards") and pasture from its "excellent grazing ability"; US breeding also stated as "a breed organization called Gloucester Old Spots of America, Inc., was founded to maintain the breed"
The page saysWindfall fruit, cider pressings, dairy whey, pasture forage, and worms and grubs rooted from the ground
The source saysthriving on dairy by-products (whey), windfall fruits in orchards, and cider pressingsNote: pasture forage and worms/grubs from gospbu-faq ("more attractive food underground, such as worms and grubs, than the choice of forage offered to them")
The page saysA calm, hardy build suited to outdoor rearing
The source saysThe Gloucestershire Old Spots pig is known for its calm nature, ease of handling, and its hardiness in outdoor rearing conditions.
The page saysBecause of what it ate. The breed was common on small family farms, where it thrived on whey from dairying, windfall fruit in orchards, and cider pressings, and these gave it the nicknames 'cottage pig' and 'orchard pig.'
The source saysthe GOS was common on small family farms, thriving on dairy by-products (whey), windfall fruits in orchards, and cider pressings. These gave the pigs the nicknames “cottage pig” and “orchard pig.”Note: "Because" restates the source's "These gave the pigs the nicknames"
The page saystags: agricultural
The source saysthe GOS was common on small family farms, thriving on dairy by-products (whey), windfall fruits in orchards, and cider pressingsNote: replaces woodland: RBST says "frequently kept in orchards" and "excellent grazing ability"; no source places it in temperate forest

Source
03

Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders United

New Breeder Information (FAQ). Gloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders United.

The page saysA US breed registry adds that if there is tastier food underground, such as worms and grubs, than the forage on offer, the pigs will root
The source saysIf there is more attractive food underground, such as worms and grubs, than the choice of forage offered to them, they will root.Note: GOSPBU is a US registry: "The Livestock Conservancy will work with us as a recognized GOS pig breed association and registry"; its address is Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA. "(dig with their snouts)" defines the term rooting
The page saysHow long the pigs live is uncertain: one US breed registry calls it a difficult question, and says Old Spots have kept breeding until about nine years old, though many will not reach that age.
The source saysHow old will a GOS pig live or be reproductive? This is a difficult question to answer. Old spots have been reproductive to 9 years or so. Many will not reach that age, or be able to reproduce that long.Note: "kept breeding until about nine" paraphrases "have been reproductive to 9 years or so"; it is a breeding age, not a lifespan
The page saysa snout that roots underground for worms and grubs
The source saysIf there is more attractive food underground, such as worms and grubs, than the choice of forage offered to them, they will root.
The page saysGloucestershire Old Spots Pig Breeders United, a US breed registry, calls it a difficult question: Old Spots have kept breeding until about nine years old, though many will not reach that age, and more data needs to be collected.
The source saysHow old will a GOS pig live or be reproductive? This is a difficult question to answer. Old spots have been reproductive to 9 years or so. Many will not reach that age, or be able to reproduce that long. More data needs to be collected on this topic.Note: "kept breeding until about nine" paraphrases "have been reproductive to 9 years or so"; it is a breeding age, not a lifespan
The page saystags: omnivore
The source saysIf there is more attractive food underground, such as worms and grubs, than the choice of forage offered to them, they will root.Note: animal food; the plant side is livestock-conservancy-gos: "thriving on dairy by-products (whey), windfall fruits in orchards, and cider pressings"
The page sayswhich roots through the soil for worms and grubs
The source saysIf there is more attractive food underground, such as worms and grubs, than the choice of forage offered to them, they will root.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.